[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6576427,"mediaKeyId","3105017-6804fb335f9267ee4913e441f93c5f0b","parentId",3105017,"title","Commission recommends approval of Parks & Recreation FY26–27 financial plan; commissioners press on allocated costs, forestry funding and golf reserves","audioSeconds",2641,"startMs",3359000,"endMs",6000000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3105017-6804fb335f9267ee4913e441f93c5f0b&start=3359&end=6000","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3105017-6804fb335f9267ee4913e441f93c5f0b/thumbnail_3359000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576427/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Commission-recommends-approval-of-Parks-Recreation-FY2627-financial-plan-commissioners-press-on-allocated-costs-forestry-funding-and-golf-reserves","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576427-abc0115bde201f3a2f11669f0c9f1ea0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140617&Signature=RnSKmtqV6hNpaTeisCdA~cjlS1mLqJ9zRSI0K3FhRuySxFFaEhHPIOiWVtD02NtgHM6-BlDPriQBVc53minIgNSN0qKaB5vr9wUmtMQO~TXoM4wZxcBlbVhgsdv9k7ZGmOwPQlOAXmeXmjlTqlszYLjCErBu1Ediza1xuxDQU64pM5x2A7ywUt6a5Typy1w1t48~F0FWkUMDpFaHskens2W8bQ01CjC4UU-n-dKQcDB0M67o12TWrdl5SHejr2g2p2TeME8sCp-yZY1tHTr7OtkftRpGPgbjyoQru2w2ZU7b8Nc7GCDhHUZxmZuG1k4GIg0608nIueoP6QlGWE6zng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Barbara, CA","date","2025-04-24T02:12:09.663Z","article","The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission on April 23 voted to recommend approval of the department’s proposed financial plan for fiscal years 2026–27, following a detailed presentation from Business Manager Tina Nelson and discussion with department leadership.

Tina Nelson, the department’s business manager, summarized the two‑year plan as including the general fund operating budget, a capital program and the golf enterprise fund. She told commissioners the department proposes general fund expenditures just over $28 million for FY26, with a net general‑fund subsidy of roughly $19.29 million after projected department revenues. The Recreation Division’s proposed revenue budget is described in the presentation as just over $6 million in FY26 and nearly $6.5 million in FY27; Parks Division revenues are shown at just over $2 million per year.

Nelson said the department proposes to rely on about 85 full‑time and 235 part‑time employees, and noted rising costs that affect the budget including a planned 10% water‑rate increase effective July 1 and inflationary pressures on supplies, fuel and chemicals. She also summarized the capital program, which includes ongoing projects and planned investments such as Carrillo gym renovations, Dwight Murphy Field loan repayment and construction, Franceschi Park design funds, and pool repairs at Los Baños. The capital plan also includes funding for an updated citywide parks and recreation master plan and an updated tree inventory to support long‑term urban‑forest management.

The golf enterprise fund was a focal point during questions. Nelson said the fund expects just under 75,000 paid rounds and revenues of $5.2 million in FY26 and $5.4 million in FY27, with expenditures just under $6 million and just over $6 million respectively. She said the golf fund holds a current reserve surplus of about $2.8 million that the department plans to use to cover an operating shortfall in FY26 and FY27 while pursuing deferred infrastructure work (maintenance road repaving, tee‑box and green renovations, parking lot work and other capital). Even with reserve use, Nelson said, the department projects roughly a $900,000 surplus by the end of FY27.

Commissioners pressed staff on several issues during the discussion. Commissioner Ramsey asked why Parks’ salary and benefits rose faster than the citywide projection; Nelson said the department requested and received targeted increases for hourly parks staff to keep seasonal and maintenance wages competitive in the local labor market. Several commissioners — including Ramsey and Vice Chair Clark — returned to a recurring concern about the city’s allocated internal‑service charges (IT, facilities, motor pool, insurance), which Nelson and Director Jill Zachary said the department cannot directly control. Staff explained some recent allocation changes have shifted costs (for example, IT allocation by headcount rather than station), and noted the allocations reflect citywide charges that departments are billed for.

Forestry funding drew sustained attention. Commissioners asked for clearer, ongoing reporting on what the utility‑user‑tax (UUT) allocation for street trees and medians buys in practice. Nelson and Director Zachary said staff will prepare a division‑level presentation with performance outputs and will report on the proposed tree‑inventory project and how the UUT monies and general‐fund support are applied to forestry operations.

Commissioners also questioned golf‑fund limitations and community access. Nelson and Director Zachary said the golf fund is an enterprise fund restricted to golf operations and capital; the commission was told the course now has a multi‑year program of deferred‑maintenance work that will use reserves, and that the course offers free community events (family easter event, movie nights, family holiday activities) to broaden community access.

After discussion the commission moved, seconded and voted to recommend approval of the Parks and Recreation Financial Plan for FY26 and FY27 covering the general fund, golf fund, capital program and the fees and charges schedule. The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council as part of the citywide budget process.

Why it matters: the two‑year financial plan sets staffing levels, fee strategies and capital investments for parks, recreation, urban forestry and the golf course. Commissioners’ questions about allocated costs and forestry output reflect tradeoffs between maintenance demands, rising operating costs and limited citywide resources.

Follow up: staff said they will provide a parks division presentation with forestry performance outputs and more detail about the proposed parks and recreation master plan, and will confirm golf capital timing as projects proceed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Recreation Commission - April 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission on April 23 voted to recommend approval of the department’s proposed FY2026–27 Financial Plan, following a presentation by Business Manager Tina Nelson and discussion about allocated costs, forestry funding and golf reserves.","taxTitle","Santa Barbara City, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",4209,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576432,"Parks Commission approves three street‑tree removals; one conditioned on 30‑foot replacement",1715,965000,2680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3105017-6804fb335f9267ee4913e441f93c5f0b&start=965&end=2680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3105017-6804fb335f9267ee4913e441f93c5f0b/thumbnail_965000.jpg","/articles/6576432/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Parks-Commission-approves-three-streettree-removals-one-conditioned-on-30foot-replacement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576432-f0402ee924f4e7e40500bbc894f0508d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140617&Signature=KIT3i-VSn3fcVlmSXVTOylMz7agMW0fmL2v~STnb57QCzfjj9OjOUHK2zVvmXUQxxRWFh6cKpITIxlpWPaEYQM8t8Y36UgJF4nv42LVy6DYArMUbus2Wc7FHV1VDLvvoaazZqJucKAwAAYD-S~sO3zLn9Y7AJpTiybu2yvezMasuHYdSVUWoQI7a8HgXnh3n3Z3dOCUIoJ1FEXR0p8Yp-q2YDB2jmbh~-Vm-e7GeoZ-G5Y9DQnBxYAD193KpDFYjOfrPRDZyC7dEcrwlmuwA3z9w~yceoiLvo1bBm6tI3wKMYXkD0~iSI5hncM76GXbfY91VCOjmcYKVoyaLq-5EmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission members on April 23 voted to approve three separate street‑tree removal requests presented by staff and recommended by the Street Tree Advisory Committee.

The commission approved removal of a single queen palm at 1025 Chino Street, the removal of three queen palms at 1260 North Ridge Road to allow residential development, and removal of two blue gum eucalyptus at 112 (Barker Pass/Calabello) with a condition that the applicant plant a replacement tree that can achieve about 30 feet at maturity.

The removals followed recommendations from the Street Tree Advisory Committee and staff reports from a city arborist, identified in the meeting as Mr. Slack. The committee found that the single queen palm at 1025 Chino provided little neighborhood benefit and showed only “fair” health; the commission accepted the committee’s recommendation that removing it would not “materially impact” the character of the street. The 1260 North Ridge application was approved after committee and staff review found that relocating a reconstructed garage would put it in direct conflict with the three palms; the applicant’s landscape plan proposes six replacement canopy trees (a roughly 2:1 replacement ratio).

The request for two blue gum eucalyptus received more extended discussion. Staff and the advisory committee cited concerns including property damage and potential failure modes for blue gums, and noted Barker Pass is an evacuation route. Owner Greg Thorpe told the commission he supported the removals and said a prior local tree failure had toppled a utility pole and blocked Barker Pass for several hours. The committee recommended approving the removals but conditioning approval on planting a replacement tree expected to reach about 30 feet at maturity; the owner agreed to that condition during the hearing.

Commissioners asked staff how the advisory committee evaluates neighborhood character and how the committee weighs cumulative effects if similar applications appear in the same area. Mr. Slack said the committee conducts on‑the‑ground assessments of canopy and street appearance and treats each application on its own facts; he cautioned that palms are generally judged to contribute less to canopy than shade trees. Commissioner Nielsen pressed whether approving removals based on individual findings could set a precedent if many similar trees were later removed; staff and other commissioners said applications are reviewed case‑by‑case and that individual approvals do not automatically set binding precedent.

Votes at a glance
- 1025 Chino Street (single queen palm) — Motion to approve removal consistent with Street Tree Advisory Committee recommendation; mover: Commissioner O'Donough; second: not specified on the record; outcome: approved.
- 1260 North Ridge Road (three queen palms) — Motion to approve removal to allow practical development, subject to replacement trees shown on the submitted landscape plan (six canopy trees); mover: Commissioner Ramsey; second: not specified on the record; outcome: approved.
- 112 (Barker Pass/Calabello) (two blue gum eucalyptus) — Motion to approve removal conditioned on planting a replacement tree capable of reaching approximately 30 feet at maturity; mover: Commissioner Price; second: not specified on the record; outcome: approved.

What the commission recorded: all three motions were approved in roll calls taken during the meeting; the transcript did not include a recorded roll‑call tally showing each commissioner’s named vote. The conditional approval for the blue gums requires the type of replacement to be confirmed on the permit at time of issuance.

Why it matters: the decisions balance property development and public‑safety concerns against the city’s urban forest goals. Commissioners explicitly discussed whether palms and non‑native blue gums provide long‑term canopy value and noted the city’s authority and past practice of evaluating removals under multiple findings (public safety, reasonable and practical development, and neighborhood character). The blue gum approvals referenced evacuation‑route concerns and a prior local failure that damaged a utility pole.

Looking ahead: applicants approved with conditions must meet the replacement and permit requirements before a removal permit issues; staff will confirm replacement tree species and planting locations when permits are issued.","The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission on April 23 approved requests to remove four queen palms and two blue gum eucalyptus across three properties, citing development conflicts and safety concerns. One approval includes a required replacement tree that will reach about 30 feet at maturity.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission recommends approval of Parks & Recreation FY26–27 financial plan; commissioners press on allocated costs, forestry funding and golf reserves

Parks Commission approves three street‑tree removals; one conditioned on 30‑foot replacement